Congratulations on the new addition to your family! This sheet is a guide to how best to look after your new rabbit.

Housing and environment
Rabbits must not be kept in hutches all day – they need to be allowed to run and jump and display normal behaviour.  Have an attached run or an enclosed supervised area for exercise (or consider a shed!) Housing areas should be a minimum of 3m x 2m x 1m high. There should be a shaded end and the floors solid i.e. not wire, with bedding such as straw.

Clean your rabbit’s accommodation every day.

An alternative to the traditional outside space is to consider training your rabbit to be a house rabbit; so allowed free reign inside the house and using litter trays for toileting. Environmental enrichment is just as important especially considering that bored rabbits will chew on anything! Be careful not to overheat the rabbit with central heating.

Rabbits are highly social animals and prefer a companion – a bonded pair is ideal, and a male/female pairing seems to work best. Rabbits should be neutered to prevent breeding and also to prevent aggression. A new rabbit should be introduced gradually – further advice is available from sources such as the RSPCA and the RWAF (Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund) amongst others.

Do not house rabbits with guinea pigs – they have different needs and there is also the risk of transmitting infection.

Diet
A rabbit’s diet should consist mostly (80%) of fresh grass or good quality e.g. timothy hay. A small amount of rabbit specific pellet food, approximately 1 to 2 tablespoons a day depending on weight- but do not feed muesli type food. This has  been linked to various health issues including dental and gastrointestinal disease. Use scatter feeding or foraging toys to encourage normal behaviour. Fresh greens or herbs make up the smallest amount in the ideal diet (see separate sheet on what is suitable.)

Neutering
We advise neutering rabbits – this can take place from 4 months (male) and 5 months (female) This prevents fighting, mating and health issues such as uterine cancer.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are important in rabbits just as much as in cats and dogs. We can vaccinate against myxomatosis (spread by fleas, flies and mosquitos amongst other things) and RHD1 and 2 (Rabbit haemorrhagic disease). Vaccination is recommended for all rabbits even indoor ones because of the risk of contracting the diseases via clothing as well as via insects. The vaccine can be given from 5 weeks of age and should be given yearly.

Day to day health
Rabbits should be checked daily behaviour and physical health changes, especially changes in appetite or droppings. It is also important to check for flystrike (especially in hot weather. Call us if you have any concerns. Flystrike, mouth breathing, not eating or producing droppings are all emergencies and you should call us immediately.

 

<— Back to Rabbit Pack

Congratulations on the new addition to your family! This sheet is a guide to how best to look after your new rabbit.

Housing and environment
Rabbits must not be kept in hutches all day – they need to be allowed to run and jump and display normal behaviour.  Have an attached run or an enclosed supervised area for exercise (or consider a shed!) Housing areas should be a minimum of 3m x 2m x 1m high. There should be a shaded end and the floors solid i.e. not wire, with bedding such as straw.

Clean your rabbit’s accommodation every day.

An alternative to the traditional outside space is to consider training your rabbit to be a house rabbit; so allowed free reign inside the house and using litter trays for toileting. Environmental enrichment is just as important especially considering that bored rabbits will chew on anything! Be careful not to overheat the rabbit with central heating.

Rabbits are highly social animals and prefer a companion – a bonded pair is ideal, and a male/female pairing seems to work best. Rabbits should be neutered to prevent breeding and also to prevent aggression. A new rabbit should be introduced gradually – further advice is available from sources such as the RSPCA and the RWAF (Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund) amongst others.

Do not house rabbits with guinea pigs – they have different needs and there is also the risk of transmitting infection.

Diet
A rabbit’s diet should consist mostly (80%) of fresh grass or good quality e.g. timothy hay. A small amount of rabbit specific pellet food, approximately 1 to 2 tablespoons a day depending on weight- but do not feed muesli type food. This has  been linked to various health issues including dental and gastrointestinal disease. Use scatter feeding or foraging toys to encourage normal behaviour. Fresh greens or herbs make up the smallest amount in the ideal diet (see separate sheet on what is suitable.)

Neutering
We advise neutering rabbits – this can take place from 4 months (male) and 5 months (female) This prevents fighting, mating and health issues such as uterine cancer.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are important in rabbits just as much as in cats and dogs. We can vaccinate against myxomatosis (spread by fleas, flies and mosquitos amongst other things) and RHD1 and 2 (Rabbit haemorrhagic disease). Vaccination is recommended for all rabbits even indoor ones because of the risk of contracting the diseases via clothing as well as via insects. The vaccine can be given from 5 weeks of age and should be given yearly.

Day to day health
Rabbits should be checked daily behaviour and physical health changes, especially changes in appetite or droppings. It is also important to check for flystrike (especially in hot weather. Call us if you have any concerns. Flystrike, mouth breathing, not eating or producing droppings are all emergencies and you should call us immediately.

 

<— Back to Rabbit Pack